This weekend, Rolling Monkey in Statesboro is celebrating five years in business. The locally-owned rolled ice cream shop is popular among adults and children alike, and it has firmly established its own place within the Statesboro community.
But the concept behind the business is much deeper than simply a sweet treat.
A coast-to-coast love story
Rolling Monkey founders, Garrett and Meagan Clark, are both graduates of Georgia Southern and began dating during their time at the school, though their paths crossed years earlier.
Meagan grew up in Southern California but had family in Camden County, including several cousins she was extremely close to. During a visit to Georgia to see them while she was still in high school, she met a tanned, wavy-haired lifeguard with a Southern accent named Garrett who left quite an impression.
A couple of years later, she was moving across the country to attend Georgia Southern alongside him.
After they graduated and began their careers, the two took a fun and romantic trip back to her home state, visiting wine country and enjoying their time together. It was there in a vineyard that Garrett proposed to Meagan and their next adventure began.
They were married in 2018, with Meagan becoming a “bonus mom” to Garrett’s son Connor. From the start, the Clarks built a solid foundation on a shared vision and love for their life together.
Finding a “reason for being”
Garrett, an engineer, and Meagan, an elementary school teacher, spent a few years within their respective professions before feeling a strong calling to do “something more” with their lives and their goals.
Garrett had discovered the Ikigai concept, which is a Japanese term translating to "purpose" or "reason for being," and the two knew that their lives were meant to change.
The couple set out to address what John Vervaeke, professor of cognitive science at Toronto University, has termed "the meaning crisis," and the concept of Rolling Monkey Ice Cream was born.
Rolling out the Inspiration Station concept
Rolling Monkey's mission is to "Inspire People who Inspire the World" by unlocking the potential in people. Together, the Clarks are on a mission to create environments that unite people to drive positive, meaningful change.
From the day the doors opened, the Clarks have positioned their unique and engaging ice cream experience as an example of what can be accomplished within the retail business model.
Rolling Monkey isn’t just about selling ice cream for the Clarks. They’ve created a holistic environment that meets the needs of their employees from the ground up.
As part of that mission, the Clarks have developed a communal “InspirationStation™” at Rolling Monkey that has yielded hundreds of inspired testimonies from employees, interns, customers, and business partners alike.
The work environment they have created is designed to meet employees' and interns' physiological, safety, love, belonging, esteem, and meaning needs. Through this commitment, the Clarks produce more driven, abundant, creative, and adaptable graduates who are effectively prepared for life in today’s world.
In addition, they are committed to being involved in our community, frequently hosting percentage nights for various causes and forming mutually beneficial partnerships with other local entities like Georgia Southern University.
A sweet success
Under this concept, the Clarks have accomplished an incredible amount in just five years of business. They led the business to achieve half a million dollars in revenue in its first year of operation and have designed a resilient business model to withstand economic crises.
The business has been awarded more than 30 recognitions to date, including Best Locally Owned Business, Best Place to Work, and Best Place for Family Fun. The Clarks have also developed seven internship programs, yielding 30-plus accreditations in a variety of areas including organizational psychology, finance, and multimedia.
Earlier this year, Rolling Monkey received a particularly meaningful recognition: the Statesboro-Bulloch Chamber’s 2022 Best Small Business Award.
Garrett said at the time, “This one touches a special place in our hearts, as it recognizes businesses specifically around product and service innovation, customer service, community involvement, and staff development, all of which we care deeply about and strive each and every day to further develop.”
Moving forward, the Clarks hope to partner with other leaders who share their vision in creating Inspiration Stations in their own communities.
“We are grateful to reach this milestone and know it wouldn't be possible without an amazing team, community, and partners," Garrett said. "From the bottom of our hearts, we thank everyone who has been a part of this venture and look forward to those who will join us in making Rolling Monkey a legacy that positively impacts generations to come.”
Join the birthday celebration
You can celebrate Rolling Monkey’s 5th birthday this Sunday, November 12, from noon to 5pm at the store.
Each year, they team up with the Boys and Girls Club of Bulloch County to offer every student a chance to enjoy the Rolling Monkey experience. Limited edition t-shirts will be available for purchase during the birthday party, and each purchase will come with a matching shirt and a gift certificate to experience Rolling Monkey given to a child in Bulloch County.
Rolling Monkey is located at 430 Northside Dr East, Suite #166, Statesboro, GA. For more information, call (912) 225-0601.
